Unfortunately, too many churches exist where the senior pastor is a tremendous leader but an even bigger bottleneck. In such churches nothing of importance can happen unless the senior pastor is at the hub of it. Neither long-term volunteers nor senior staff feel empowered to take initiative on anything major. They feel underutilized – and they are.
When I visit churches like that, I am saddened by the waste of so many people's God-given talents, energies, and spiritual gifts. It's like the church is running on 10% of its potential and calling.
Last week I saw a terrific model of the way things could be (and should be). The place was New Direction Christian Church in Memphis, Tennessee, stop #8 in Scott Thumma's and my large-church fie
ld study (see previous blogs for stops 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7).
Lead pastor Stacy Spencer is a visionary leader and an unusually gifted preacher. He effectively sets the spiritual cadence for his staff, the congregation, and in many ways the surrounding community. Yet he has clearly "hired up" – gathering a team of paid staff and volunteer leaders who are both hig
hly skilled and highly permitted to take major ministry initiatives. As a result, a strong sense of empowerment pervades all levels of the congregation, which in turn leads to a highly involved, passionate and spiritually growing congregation.
One example is his senior staff, each having a strong professional background in the corporate world or pastoral ministry, each warmly encouraged to bring their expertise to bear on their respective areas of evangelism, pastoral care, communication, organizational structuring, or financial management.
Another example was revealed in a con
versation we heard about, which happened at a newcomers meeting. "Pastor, why don't we have a ministry to [people like her in a specific life stage and circumstances]?" His reply: "Let me introduce you to [a well-connected volunteer leader]. She can help you get this ministry started." That's on-the-spot empowerment!
The impact of a church like New Direction is far reaching – on the people who are part of it, on those it is touching, and those it is yet to touch. When God's people are released, He does amazing things.
Warren Bird, Ph.D., is Research Director at Leadership Network, and co-author of 19 books on various aspects of church health and innovation.
I couldn't agree more with the points expressed here. My biggest question is; How does a church transform its culture from bottlenecked to empowering? Could there be some dialogue/follow up with Pastor Spencer and others who have had to journey with a church through such a transition?
Posted by: bryan harris | May 28, 2008 at 07:50 AM